Securing Your Digital Legacy: A Guide for Future Access

Planning for your digital legacy is just as important as managing your physical assets. Here's how you can take control of their online presence.

In today’s digital world, our online lives hold memories, photos, and sensitive personal information—all of which form part of our digital legacy.  When someone passes away or becomes incapacitated, gaining access to their digital accounts can be essential for both emotional closure and practical matters.

However, many online platforms treat accounts as private and non-transferable, which can make it difficult for families to retrieve or manage important digital content. Fortunately, several major tech companies now offer legacy tools that allow users to plan ahead and grant trusted individuals access to their accounts if they are no longer able to manage them.

Here’s a guide to setting up digital legacy tools on these popular platforms:

• Facebook;
• Instagram
• Google;
• Apple;
• Outlook.com, OneDrive and other Microsoft services
• LinkedIn; and
• Twitter (Now X)

Most of these tools are quick and easy to set up—just a few minutes of your time can ensure your loved ones will be able to access your photos and other digital memories if you're no longer able to.

 

Facebook

Legacy Options

Facebook offers three choices:

1. Delete your account after death.
2. Memorialise your account and assign a Legacy Contact to manage it.
3. Create a tribute section for loved ones to post messages (available in limited regions).

How to Set It Up

1. Click the downward arrow in the top-right of Facebook.
2. Go to Settings & Privacy > Settings.
3. Under General Account Settings, select Memorialisation Settings.
4. Choose whether to delete your account or appoint a Legacy Contact. 

What Happens If You Don’t Take Action

Your account will be memorialised:

• The word "Remembering" will appear next to your name.
• Friends can post on your timeline.
• The account is locked, and no one can log in.
• Only a previously assigned Legacy Contact can manage the memorialised account.

More information on Facebook memorialisation here

 

Instagram

Legacy Tool

Instagram does not currently support pre-planning. After death, accounts can either be:

• Memorialised, or
• Deleted.

How to Request Changes

• To memorialise: Submit full name, Instagram handle, and a death certificate.
• To delete: Submit a removal request with official proof of death.

What Happens If You Don’t Take Action

• The account remains online but becomes frozen and inaccessible.

More information on Instagram's policies is here

 

Google

Legacy Tool: Inactive Account Manager

This tool allows you to:

• Decide when your account is considered inactive
• Notify up to 10 trusted contacts
• Share selected data with specific people
• Choose to automatically delete your account

How to Set It Up

 1. Go to Google Inactive Account Manager.

2. Click Start.

3. Set your inactivity timeout period and provide a mobile number for alerts.

4. Add trusted contacts and specify which data they can access.

5. Choose whether to delete your account.

6. Review and confirm your plan.

What Happens If You Don’t Take Action

 Your family or the personal representative of the estate may need a court order to access your data.

 

Apple

  Legacy Tool: Legacy Contact

 Apple allows you to appoint a Legacy Contact to access your Apple account after your death. Requires:

• iOS 15.2 / iPadOS 15.2 / macOS 12.1 or later.

How to Set It Up

1. Go to Settings > Your Name > Password & Security > Legacy Contact.
2. Tap Add Legacy Contact and authenticate.
3. Choose a contact and share the access key via message or print.

What Happens If You Don’t Take Action

 Currently, If a Legacy Contact hasn’t been set up, no one will be able to access the account. Eventually, the account will be deleted once Apple’s data retention period ends—typically due to an unpaid iCloud subscription. Gaining access without a Legacy Contact requires a court order, which can be both costly and time-consuming.

More on Apple’s Legacy Contact policies here.

 

Outlook.com, OneDrive, and Other Microsoft Services

Legacy Tool

 Microsoft does not currently offer a dedicated legacy planning tool like some other platforms. However, they provide guidance on managing accounts if someone passes away or becomes incapacitated.

What to Do When Someone Has Died or Is Incapacitated

• You do not need to contact Microsoft to notify them of a death or incapacity.
• If you know the account credentials, you may close the account yourself.
• If you don’t know the credentials, the account will be automatically closed after two (2) years of inactivity.

What Happens If You Don’t Take Action

• Without account credentials or legal access, the account will remain inactive and will be permanently closed after two years of no use.

More information on accessing Outlook.com, OneDrive, and other Microsoft services after someone has died is available here on Microsoft Support.

 

LinkedIn

Legacy Tool

 LinkedIn does not offer a pre-planning tool. However, loved ones can request account memorialisation or closure.

How to Request Access

 Submit a request to LinkedIn with:

• Your relationship to the deceased.
• Death certificate and any other requested documentation.

What Happens If You Don’t Take Action

The account remains live until LinkedIn is notified, after which it is hidden.

More information on LinkedIn memorialisation options here

 

Twitter (Now X)

Legacy Tool

 Twitter/X does not offer pre-planning options. However, loved ones can request account deactivation.

How to Request Account Deactivation

Provide the following:

• Twitter username (@handle).
• A death certificate.
• Your ID.
• A signed statement explaining your relationship and reason for the request.

What Happens If You Don’t Take Action

The account remains live for six months, then may be deleted due to inactivity.

More on Twitter/X’s policies here 

 

 Take Control of Your Digital Legacy

Taking just a few minutes now to set up your digital legacy can save your loved ones from added stress during a difficult time. Whether it’s treasured photos, financial information, or access to important emails, securing your online presence ensures your digital life is properly managed and preserved.

 

 Need Help Including Digital Assets in Your Estate Plan?

Planning your digital legacy is an important part of your overall estate strategy. If you’d like support or advice, get in touch with a qualified professional today.

Find an IPW Member near you – https://www.ipw.org.uk/ 

 

Written by Michelle Kemp

Director, Legatum Planning Ltd - on behalf of The Institute of Professional Willwriters